A good song ruined by a bad audio system is the last thing you need, especially when you’re traveling long distances. Most cars don’t have a good built-in audio system that may ruin even your favorite song. This is why we suggest that you turn to a sound enhancer.
Most people will recommend a subwoofer in this case, which is not only heavy on the pocket but also takes a lot of space, making them unsuitable for most car owners.
A digital bass restoration processor or a bass booster is what you really need. It is ideal for anyone who wants to bring out power and definition in low frequencies of the audio they are listening to.
Table of Contents
The Best Bass Processors
AudioControl The Epicenter Plus
Most digital bass processors come with an EQ to adjust the frequency, the total width of the boost, and the level of effect giving more control to the listener over audio. With this tool, you will be able to control bass and enjoy music the way you like it.
Those who don’t understand the actual working of a bass restoration processor often assume that a bass amplifier will do the exact same thing. That is not true, a bass restoration processor is much more complicated. From classical to rap, a digital bass processor can improve the low-frequency sound on all kinds of music. It doesn’t merely work on bass.
The working of a bass processor is different than the working of a simple bass booster, equalizer or bass amplifier. It features an electric circuit which is responsible for recreating the low-end sound and injecting it again into the audio signal to give a higher bass impact. It also gives users the ability to control the low-end power according to what they need by giving them control over para-bass functions.
We have come up with this article to help you find the best digital bass processor so you can restore those long-lost bass notes.
If you are struggling to find the best digital bass restoration processors, then check out the six best options below.
We reviewed the market to pick the best digital bass restoration for all kinds of budgets. The reviews will help you compare different products and pick the best option.
AudioControl The Epicenter Plus is designed to enhance audio and add bass to your factory-installed audio and radio systems. To protect flimsy factory speakers, the radio systems usually dial down the bass.
The Epicenter with its sophisticated processing analyzes the incoming signal and then synthesizes the fundamental low bass tunes. Thanks to this, you will be able to pump any kind of music with heart-throbbing bass. The best part is that this bass restoration processor is extremely easy to install and maintain.
Put it between the receiver and the amplifier and make the connection. The wired remote control that comes with it allows you to control the quantity of bass.
This bass restoration processor can be ideal for anyone who wants an earth-shaking bass. It even has line-level inputs for use with aftermarket systems. Hence, the processor has a high compatibility rate.
It might be a little expensive but it’s worth the price as it’s quite durable and easy to use.
If you have installed subwoofers and amplifiers to your car system but are still missing on bass, this AudioControl Epicenter will help you restore the bass in your musical signal.
The processor comes with patented technology that efficiently creates and injects bass back into the signal path. This is done by analyzing the music signal for higher-order harmonics where the missing bass is recreated, i.e: the device does not boost the already present bass. It creates new bass based on the signal, providing a true high-fidelity low-end output.
Like all the AudioControl processors, this one is also extremely easy to install. It is directly connected with the amplifier upstream and with the line converter downstream.
AudioControl The EPICENTER is among the best digital bass restoration processors out there. It is quite reliable and easy to use. You will notice a clear difference in sound quality thanks to this beauty. Plus, it is affordable as well making it a good option for users who want an affordable processor.
Soundstream, a Salt Lake-based company, has become quite popular in recent years due to its incredible line up of products and amazing customer support.
This particular bass creator is based on the same underlying phenomenon of recreating the low-end bass and injecting it into the system. It comes with LED indicators to indicate the activation of bass maximization circuit. Sometimes, due to heavy bass, the subwoofers often end up damaged, in this case, the processor comes with the PFM subsonic filter which keeps the subwoofers safe and also helps in fine-tuning the response of the system.
The balanced input circuitry included in the processor ensures that there is no noise when you listen to your favorite songs at your preferred bass level.
Soundstream BX-20Z Digital Bass Reconstruction Processor is among the best digital bass restoration processors due to its low price. However, do not let the low rate fool you as it comes with some amazing features. We love its ability to reduce noise and create high quality sound.
Another product from Soundstream makes it to the list for all the right reasons.
This bass restoration processor is among the best bass restoration processors because of its extremely reasonable price, long manufacturer’s warranty, and high-quality bass that it adds to the audio.
Even the old songs that don’t have any bass can be revamped by this beast. With this beauty, you’d feel like a DJ giving a new twist to classics.
Like most Soundstream bass restoration processors, this one also comes with LED indicators to indicate the activation of bass maximizer. The dash mount control and light-up display make it easier to operate this device.
It also has a subsonic filter which operates at 35Hz, 50Hz, and 80Hz. This keeps the subwoofers from damaging your music, ensuring you enjoy great oomph.
Soundstream Bx10x is almost similar to expensive premium-quality digital bass processors, except it comes at an extremely reasonable price. We think it can be ideal for newbies and amateurs since it doesn’t dent the pocket and is pretty user-friendly. Plus, the company is quite reliable and is known for providing excellent customer support.
This Hifonics digital bass processor is one of the most reasonable yet efficient bass processors on the market. With its unique bass equalization circuit, it can accurately recreate bass at low-end frequencies and then contours it to the speakers.
The bass maximizer indicator tells the user as soon as the system is ready to produce high-quality music. The output control is capable of producing deep heart-throbbing bass without ruining your speakers.
Bass response is fine-tuned thanks to the PFM subsonic filter incorporated in the system. Moreover, it’s also backed by a one-year manufacturer’s warranty which is usually not available for low-priced bass restoration processors.
Hifonics BXIPRO1.0 works efficiently and has all the necessary features you expect from the best unit. Hence, it is ideal for anyone who wants a heart-throbbing level of bass in his/her car.
It works exceptionally well when combined with crossovers, subwoofers, and amplifiers. However, make sure you keep the sequence of connection on point as a wrong sequence can ruin the output.
This digital bass processor is among the best for enhancing low frequencies. It supports almost all music and audio formats making it a good option for people who want a reliable unit.
It is specifically designed to be ergonomic, economic and efficient. Users can choose between balanced and unbalanced grounding mode on top of PWM high headroom power supply.
Noise rejection ability of this processor is quite efficient leading to crisp and clear sound. It has a large frequency response range which makes it a good choice for people who enjoy pop, rock, and country music. The harmonic distortion rate is also only 0.003 percent so expect there to be little to no noise.
DS18 DBP-1 is ideal for people who have a smaller car since it can optimize bass according to the car. Moreover, it comes at a very reasonable price making it a good option for people who are on a tight budget.
Best Bass Restoration Processor Buying Guide
Types of Sound Processors
We have highlighted some of the best bass restoration processors in this review. However, it is still important that you compare all the options and pick the one that you find the best.
Most sound processors are the same as they use similar underlying technology. However, we can categorize them into five main groups.
Equalizers
An equalizer allows users to make changes or fine-tune their car’s audio by adjusting specific ranges of frequencies. These processors are typically used to remove unwanted distortion in the audio and gives precise control over the sound. Apart from this, equalizers can also adjust the acoustics of the audio according to your car making the sound better on the ears.
Expanders
These are the most basic type of sound processors that are used to improve the low-frequency reproduction in-car audio. The AudioControl’s Epicenter is one of the most famous expanders on the market and is known to produce heart-pounding and earth-shaking bass that can only be found in huge sized subwoofers.
Crossovers
Mainly designed to support an active sound system in your car, these processors divide the audio in low, mid and high range frequencies giving users control over what frequency goes to which speaker. Some of the processors in this category are a combination of stereo equalizers and crossovers.
Line Drivers
These processors are designed to enhance the audio coming from aftermarket heads and factory receiver units. These driver processors increase volume output and reduce low-level noise. As a result, you get to enjoy clear music. It is said to be great for soulful, rhythmic tunes.
Factory Radio Sound Processor
Mostly for people who want to keep the sound and radio system that the car already comes with. These professional-grade devices not only improve the acoustics of your sound system but also have built-in equalizers, line drivers, and crossovers making ‘em a good all-in-one device.
Features and Characteristics
If you are new to the world of digital bass processors and don’t know what to look for then go through this bass restoration processor buying guide. We have highlighted all the features and characteristics that you need to keep in mind before investing in one.
Let’s have a look:
Time Alignment
This feature allows the user to align all the speakers together. Since the speed of sound is lower in the air due to friction, the sound from one speaker might not be aligned with the sound from another speaker leading to an echo effect which may ruin the impact.
If your bass restoration processor has a time alignment feature, it will create sounds that are clear and crisp. Hence, the time alignment feature is quite crucial for producing good quality music in your car.
Crossovers
Crossovers are usually bought as a separate device but sometimes the feature is also included in bass restoration processors and epicenters. It is a kind of filter which is used to remove noisy and low quality upper and lower range music.
If left unremoved, these frequencies can cause a distortion in subwoofers and tweeters. If you want a similar feature in your digital bass processor, a covering range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz will be more than enough. It can also be used to remove the spotlight effect.
Bluetooth
This feature is usually present in most elite bass restoration processors but having a Bluetooth compatible device can be more useful than you can imagine.
The right software allows you to control the bass and other filters via the application making it easier to use the device. With this feature, there will be no need for low quality and inefficient dashboard remote controls which usually malfunction after a few months of regular use.
Time Analyzer
Though optional, this is a very important feature which improves the overall bass processing experience and can be a difference maker.
It is basically a real-time analyzer which analyzes the audio signal and spectrum as it is played which provides users with a visual of how the signal is being manipulated.
This feature is irrelevant for newbies, however, for professionals it might hold a lot of significance as it helps them understand how efficiently on inefficiently the bass restoration processor is manipulating the audio.
Equalization
This is an extremely important factor in a bass restoration processor since it is what controls the frequency of music or sound coming out of the speakers.
The number of equalization bands can go as high as 30 in premium digital bass processors. A higher number of bands will give you a better fine-tuning rate. However, they can be a bit tricky to use as the user will have to manipulate the audio.
So, if you are new to the whole thing, it’s better to compromise and go for a lower equalization band rate.
Conclusion
A number of well-reputed and emerging companies are manufacturing bass restoration processors. However, the huge number of options can make it difficult for users to pick the right one. To help you in this regard, we have covered all that you need to consider when buying the best digital bass restoration processor.
The six products we have selected are among the best and come with all the features you expect in a processor. Go through all the options and pick one that suits you the best.
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